Sunday night roundtable: The Fox News/GOP debate

By Michelle Malkin  •  January 6, 2008 05:28 PM

Update 1/7 9:09am Eastern. Questions about one of those focus group members.

9:35pm Eastern. Wow. Interesting. Frank Luntz’s focus group was just asked about Romney. Only a few raised their hands to say they supported him before the debate. Almost all raised their hands to say they were supporting him afterward. Look:

1romney2.jpg

Loud agreement among focus group members that Huckabee came across as slick and evasive. I’m telling ya: Shuckabee. The New Hampshirites also agreed that while Fred was good on policy, he didn’t set them on fire. “I just want to shake and wake him up,” one guy said. That’s a regular citizen saying that, ok? Not the Evil Conspiratorial Media.

Last observation: McCain was wearing fangs for the ABC News debate. He left them on the nightstand for tonight’s debate. Must have been difficult not to snarl, though.

9:26pm Eastern. Wallace asks McCain the age question. Wallace: Would you pledge for running for only four years? McCain: No. I’ve got the vigor. It’s exhilirating. I’m excited. I’m older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein.

Huckabee: I’ve met McCain’s mother. She’s got more vigor. (Crosstalk with McCain.) Wallace breaks up the lovefest.

Told you we wouldn’t get through this without Huck slobbering on McCain.

Bleeeech.

Candidates now giving closing statements. Recycling their talking points. Yawn. Maybe I shoulda had that Red Bull after all. McCain’s last–and I swear he sounds sick and tired of hearing himself. He heaved a big sigh as he launched into his stump mini-speech. SIIIIIGGHHHH. Weird.

Hot Air has vid of some of the livelier moments up here.

9:24pm Eastern. Wallace to Rudy: “Do you have too much baggage to lead the Republican party?” Rudy laughs nervously.

The answer is: Yes, he has too much baggage.

1gopnh.jpg

9:15pm Eastern. Back after another short commercial break. Wallace turns to the negative campaign ads. McCain: “I’m running a positive campaign…Everybody runs their own campaign.” Huckabee talks about his negative-positive-flip-flop decision. “I think the people of Iowa rewarded me…looking for a positive, vertical president.”

Who has nasty Ed Rollins running his campaign.

Romney makes distinction between issue ads that scrutinize records and ads that attack character. Romney jokes about Rollins’ threat. Huck: “Chuck Norris is standing outside.” Romney addresses flip-flop charges. “I’m certainly not the only person who has ever changed their mind on an issue.”

8:58pm Eastern. Finally, we move to immigration after everyone has recited their lifetime travel itineraries and CVs. McCain: “I have never, ever supported amnesty and never will.” (It depends on the meaning of “never.”) Wallace is letting him filibuster with his “I will secure the borders” pie-in-the-sky talk. Recycles his Geraldo Rivera line about not wanting to call up a soldier and telling him that he’s deporting his mother.

Romney: We are a compassionate and humane people, but we are also a people who believe in the rule of law. Amnesty in any form–technically or de facto–just doesn’t work. It just attracts more people to do the same thing past people have done. McCain quotes Romney from 2005 saying McCain’s plan was “reasonable” and not amnesty. Wallace turns to Huckabee over DREAM Act endorsement compared to his new, tough on enforcement plan. He reiterates his support for DREAM Act. Romney asks: What about the children in school? Huckabee doesn’t want to respond to Romney. Huck seems rattled. He’ll only talk to Wallace. Wallace says he was going to ask Romney’s question. Instead of asking about conferring special benefit via DREAM Act, Wallace lets him reframe and stick to talking about what he says is his legal obligation as governor to educate illegal aliens. Amnesty rhetoric is “pure nonsense,” says Huck. His is, sure.

Refresher on their immigration/border security records is at Numbers USA.

Giuliani whines about how “complicated” and “difficult” immigration enforcement is. He’s allowed to filibuster on building a fence, introducing tamper-proof ID without addressing what exactly he’d do with the 12 million already here.

This discussion gets a D minus. All platitudes, few reality-based, policy specifics.

How about:

- Should the government continue to provide funding to cities that adopt sanctuary policies or not?

- Should illegal alien ID cards issued by foreign consulates continue to be acceptable in the face of strong opposition from homeland security and law enforcement experts?

- Do the candidates support or oppose the expansion of the federal employer verification system being challenged by the ACLU?

- Would they support increased funding for the 287(g) immigration enforcement training program?

- Are they for or against the DREAM Act?

- Would they repeal Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 – yes or no?

8:51pm Eastern. Wallace brings up McCain’s attack on Rudy for not visiting Iraq. Rudy: “I am the only one here who has had to face an Islamic terrorist attack, at the center of it.” In case you didn’t know about that. He also brings up his return of the Saudi prince’s money again, which he mentioned during the ABC debate last night. In case you didn’t know about that. Thompson gets his turn to recite his curriculum vitae…and then turns to challenge Huck on closing down Gitmo and challenges Romney on Ted Kennedy’s attendance at his health care signing ceremony. Time’s running out and he wanted to cram it all in, I guess. McCain crams in all his endorsements from retired admirals, generals, and secretaries of state.

8:41pm Eastern. Back from a short commercial break. Wallace raises a McCain attack ad on Romney re. national security. Romney answers challenge to his lack of Washington experience, debate between governors vs. senators. Talks about leadership traits–calm under fire, temperament, executive leadership, etc. McCain responds that we haven’t always gotten the best outcomes with governors ascending to White House (Clinton). McCain: I know Musharraf…I’ll leave it to American people to decide whether that’s important. McCain defends his attack on Romney in which he said Romney was looking at his shoes during war; criticizes Romney for not criticizing Rumsfeld. Romney responds: He was running a state. Mentions he did go to Iraq. “I wasn’t looking at my shoes, I was running a state…There have been great governors, Ronald Reagan being one of them. It does not take a US senator to become president of the US.”

Wallace turns his sights on Huckabee–cites all of his foreign policy shortcomings, ignorance of NIE, Pakistani martial law. Huckabee interrupts. OUCH. Huck’s not liking it. Huck cites all the countries he’s been to, executive experience, chairman of Natl Governors Association. Wallace: But what about your pattern of not knowing things or getting things wrong? Huck: Not a pattern. Maybe a slip of the tongue. But not a slip of morals.

8:30pm Eastern. Changechangechange alert. Wallace wants to go back to change. McCain declares that he’s proud to be an Agent of Change. McCain cites change in Iraq tactics, surge. I have been an Agent of Change in Washington. I know how the system works. Agent of Change. Agent of Change. I think we need a t-shirt. Romney: Washington is fundamentally broken. Can’t have someone inside Washington turn Washington inside out. Sending the same people to Washington, but in different chairs, isn’t going to change. Romney talks about executive leadership skill. Fred and Rudy are giggling that Romney is describing Rudy, not himself.

Wallace throws it to McCain. McCain says he has leadership–in military, not management. “Not for profit, but for patriotism.” Ouch. No matter how you feel about McCain, it’s an effective response. Fred gets a chance to make a bland statement about change. Rudy’s statement about change attacks the Democrats. Good call. Rudy: Change is a slogan. The question is: Is it change for good or change for bad?

***8:23pm.*** Romney challenges Huckabee’s class-warfare demagoguery: “You’re not going to help the wage-earner in America by attacking the wage-payer in America.” Very strong, clear defense of free enterprise. Good moment for Romney.

Wallace asks Giuliani about consumption tax, fair tax. He answers with his stump speech about workfare in NYC. He’s dragging on. Wallace should really move on…and he does. Skips to Fred to ask about consumption tax. Giuliani is not a factor in this roundtable.

8:14pm Eastern. Well, Huckabee lost that exchange with Mitt, who quips that the Arkansas governor “makes up facts faster than you can speak.” Should have just answered the question, Gov. Shuckabee. Wallace moves to Giuliani. He reels off his record, cites George Will’s endorsement. Thompson talks Social Security reform. Romney doesn’t want to cut benefits. McCain praises Bush for attempting SocSec reform. Wallace switches topics…shows a video of Huckabee pitching economic populism.

Wallace to Huck: Does Romney remind you of someone who wants to lay you off? McCain’s cackling in the background. Can’t help himself. Huckabee channels John Edwards.

8:02pm Eastern. Here we go. No lengthy intros, no opening statements, no photo-ops. Chris Wallace jumps right in. You can watch the livestream at FoxNews.com. The first question is on tax cuts. Romney jumps right in with a defense of his tax/fees record in Mass. and launches into a challenge to McCain on his opposition to the Bush tax cuts. McCain calls himself a Reagan foot soldier, emphasizes cuts in spending. Wallace is pushing McCain on his opposition to tax cuts. McCain repeats spending cut talking points, mentions the Bridge to Nowhere, pork barrel spending, line item veto. Romney pushes back on tax cuts.

For those of you playing the Change Drinking Game, we have our first mention of “change.” Romney: “Change has to begin with us.” McCain touts his spending cut successes. “I have a record of saving billions for the American taxpayer.” Wallace turns to Huckabee and his tax-raising record. “Does Mitt Romney have a point?” Huckabee challenges the “semantics of taxes versus fees….I’ve cut taxes 94 times.” Brags about Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Via Club for Growth:

It is true that Governor Huckabee fought for an $80 million tax cut package in 1997 that was passed by the Arkansas legislature (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98); cut the state capital gains tax in 1999 (The Commercial Appeal 02/29/99); and passed the Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights in the same year, limiting the increase in property taxes to 10% a year for individuals and 5% per taxing unit (AP 03/16/99). However, his record over the rest of his ten-year tenure tells a starkly different story.

* Immediately upon taking office, Governor Huckabee signed a sales tax hike in 1996 to fund the Games and Fishing Commission and the Department of Parks and Tourism (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98).
* He supported an internet sales tax in 2001 (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07).
* He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002 (Arkansas News Bureau 08/30/02).
* He signed bills raising taxes on gasoline (1999), cigarettes (2003) (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07), and a $5.25 per day bed-tax on private nursing home patients in 2001 (Arkansas New Bureau 03/01/01).
* He proposed another sales take hike in 2002 to fund education improvements (Arkansas News Bureau 12/05/02).
* He opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003 (Arkansas News Bureau 11/21/03).
* In 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law (The Gurdon Times 03/02/04).

By the end of his ten-year tenure, Governor Huckabee was responsible for a 37% higher sales tax in Arkansas, 16% higher motor fuel taxes, and 103% higher cigarette taxes according to Americans for Tax Reform (01/07/07), garnering a lifetime grade of D from the free-market Cato Institute. While he is on record supporting making the Bush tax cuts permanent, he joined Democrats in criticizing the Republican Party for tilting its tax policies “toward the people at the top end of the economic scale” (Washington Examiner 09/13/06), even though objective evidence demonstrates that the Bush tax cuts have actually shifted the tax burden to higher income taxpayers.

Finally, Governor Huckabee opposed further tax cuts at a 2005 gathering of Iowa conservatives (AP 09/17/05). On January 28, 2007, Governor Huckabee refused to pledge not to raise taxes if elected President, first on Meet the Press and then at the National Review Conservative Summit. The evidence suggests that his commitment to protecting taxpayers evidenced in his early gubernatorial years may be a thing of the past.

Huckabee and Romney engage over their state tax records. Net-net, did you raise taxes in your state by half a billion dollars? Huckabee refuses to answer. Huckabee complains about Mitt’s campaign ads. Four times, Romney asks. Huckabee won’t answer. Finally mentions a court order…

***
john mccaonAnother GOP presidential debate kicks off at 8pm Eastern tonight on Fox News. Will Rudy continue to be a non-entity? Can Fred turn amiable performances into real momentum? Can Romney defend himself with more zeal without pulling a McCain and looking churlish? Can Huckabee appear in a forum with McCain without leaving slobber all over the floor?

I’ll liveblog again (seems to me there will be enough fireworks to eliminate the need for Red Bull) and Hot Air will have all the video highlights/lowlights. Chris Wallace is hosting–and you can be sure he won’t do the schoolmarm routine. Charles Gibson earned some praise for his hosting duties during yesterday’s debates. But I found him to be, well, unctuous, at times–and I agree with the observation that he tended to tamp down heated disagreement just when things were getting good. Gibson’s superficial knowledge of the immigration issue left him completely unequipped to challenge John McCain’s slippery rhetoric on shamnesty; he also failed at several moments to follow up on the candidates’ sweeping claims (like Giuliani’s 12 commitments).

I’d like to see some tough follow-ups to some of the candidates’ doozies last night (Huckabee’s mischaracterization of his position on the surge, for example, and John McCain’s pharmaceutical company-bashing). What do you think Wallace should ask? He already had a dress rehearsal with Huckabee this morning on Fox News Sunday:

WALLACE: In last night’s debate, you said that you supported President Bush’s troop surge when he announced it in January of last year. But let’s take a look at what you actually did say in January, and this is when Mitt Romney had already said that he approved the surge.

You said, “Well, I’m not sure that I support the troop surge, if that surge has to come from our Guard and Reserve troops, which have already been overly stretched.”

Governor, you were not the supporter of the troop surge that you represented yourself as last night.

HUCKABEE: Well, I supported the surge. I questioned the use of our Guard and Reserve in repeated deployments because as a governor, I’d seen what that had done to our own Guard troop.

About 90 percent of our Guard have been deployed now to Iraq, and some repeated deployments, long periods of time, three out of five years. These are citizen soldiers. These are people who certainly are willing to go. I’ve never heard any of them complain.

But it’s a real incredible, I think, challenge for not only the soldier but, more importantly, for their families, their employers and their communities.

And what we’ve done with Guard and Reserve forces has got to be changed. It’s one of the things that I would do as a president.

And my point was and remains that if we’re going to have the kind of war we’re going to have, we’ve got to have more troops at the beginning.

WALLACE: Governor, I’m not saying you’re right or wrong. I’m simply saying that you misrepresented yourself last night when you said you approved the troop surge. In fact, days later you said you weren’t sure you supported the troop surge.

The fact is the Guard and the Reserve have been part of the troop surge.

HUCKABEE: They have been a part of it. And my point was and remains that we need regular Army. We’ve got to beef it up. The surge is working.

I think one of the things we’ve seen is it’s been a dramatic success, and hats off to General Petraeus, and I’m grateful that he’s been in that position.

Stay tuned.

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Posted in: 2008 campaign,GOP

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Comments


  1. #101
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:45 pm, Fed Up said:

    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:36 pm, rcool487 said:
    Why was Ron Paul excluded from the debate by Fox?

    Fox News didn’t give any criteria as to why they excluded Ron Paul.

    See #20 above…

    Fed Up

  2. #102
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:45 pm, gayle said:

    I think Mitt/Fred would balance each other. Maybe those two need to team up.

  3. #103
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:45 pm, DougT said:

    I was talking about the day to day drudgery of running a the executive branch of government. There is far more to the job than being CinC. Clearly, command of military resources matters in military matters.

  4. #104
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:46 pm, Bigurn said:

    Another speech from Romney. Where’s the beef? Why can’t he outline specific policies and points?

  5. #105
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:46 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    American Gladiators in 15 minutes
    Good! getting the Huckster on his lack of knowledge of world events

  6. #106
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm, williamnr said:

    Thanks for the clarification, DougT.

    I didn’t think you meant it as I read it.
    Thanks for not taking offense, none was meant

  7. #107
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm, maisy said:

    I want to hear Duncan Hunter…..never flipped or flopped….right from the get-go…Come to think of it-
    Get me Pat Buchanon NOW!!

  8. #108
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm, Lindsay said:

    Huck just got zinged by Chris Wallace!

    I’ve beent

  9. #109
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm, Lindsay said:

    Huck just got zinged by Chris Wallace!

    I’ve beent

  10. #110
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    Of course he ain’t answering. He is diverting into all kinds of other topics. The man is drowning and Chris ain’t throwing him a life perserver.

  11. #111
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm, Bigurn said:

    I’m beginning to see Fred as a new take on the Great Communicator, with Romney as his Veep – getting things done, dotting I’s, crossing T’s.

  12. #112
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm, Lindsay said:

    Whoops. Dang keyboard…

    I’ve been to Paris but am not ready to become mayor.

  13. #113
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm, Lindsay said:

    Amen, Bigurn

  14. #114
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm, DougT said:

    I’m agreeing Bigurn.

    I thought Hucky was about to take his shoe off and pound the table.

  15. #115
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm, rightisright said:

    Huckabooboo and McPain are duckers…always duck the questions. They very well maybe Republicans, since the repubs have slid to the left over the last few yrs…thinking that’s how they win votes…I call B.S. Republicans are now the party of moderates.

  16. #116
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, gayle said:

    I want to hear something NEW.

    Same ole same ole…..dull.

  17. #117
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, Bigurn said:

    Blood on their boots, medals on their chests???? I would have gladly traded both for not having to bury my best friend. He doesn’t “get” the military mindset. I’m really insulted, and frankly pissed. How f’in condesending.

  18. #118
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, maisy said:

    These debates remind me of MA debate for Governor…All Pile on Muffy and Deval Patrick skates ….good plan….is working…..on Mitt

  19. #119
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, DougT said:

    I thought the 2nd toughest job in the USA was Governor of New Mexico. That’s what I heard last night.

  20. #120
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, mlnicosia said:

    Romney coming across great tonight – beating the crap out of McCain-Huckster.

  21. #121
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm, williamnr said:

    Fred nails Mitt to the wall

  22. #122
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm, maisy said:

    That’s why media wants McPain…and Huckabee….middle of the roaders –and the end of the country if they get the job!

  23. #123
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm, mlnicosia said:

    We have not been attacked in over 6 years but bubba has no security experience. Fred your wrong.

  24. #124
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm, gayle said:

    Zinger!

  25. #125
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm, williamnr said:

    ZING Fred nails Mitt again

  26. #126
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:55 pm, maisy said:

    Mitt and McPain both sidled up to Kennedy….YUCH!

  27. #127
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, DougT said:

    Fred’s just breaking them all down to see who he’ll select as a running mate.

  28. #128
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, wrcnossen said:

    I can’t take it any more! Don’t any of them know how to give a straight answer without going to talking points? I can’t see where any of them have any kind of political or economic philosophy that I can rely on them following. They all blow with the political wind, whatever they think people want to hear.

    I may have to sit this one out. I need to be able to vote for someone, if I can’t do that, then it will all end up the same. Without the inspirational and moral leadership, they will all just muddle through until the next one.

  29. #129
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, maisy said:

    Moving to Immigration-where the rubber meets the road…watch McCain Lie,lie,Lie

  30. #130
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, gayle said:

    McPain is such a braggart.

  31. #131
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm, Bigurn said:

    Yay! Immigration!

  32. #132
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm, gayle said:

    Fred is the ONLY one answering the questions.

  33. #133
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm, maisy said:

    iT is amnesty schmucko

  34. #134
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm, Wes S. said:

    Oh goody: Mike Huckabee reiterates his desire for full protections of US law given to terrorists captured on foreign battlefields.

    And earlier the Huckster was regaling us with his sterling moral character. Isn’t it a little jarring for a guy who looks like a dead ringer for “24′s” treacherous and terroristic President Logan to be lecturing the rest of us on morality?

  35. #135
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:58 pm, mlnicosia said:

    McCain nailed.

  36. #136
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:58 pm, gayle said:

    Liar, Liar, pants on fire.

  37. #137
    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:59 pm, gayle said:

    Compassionate for illegals?

    NOT.

  38. #138
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:00 pm, maisy said:

    sCARLET a ON THIS IDIOT! wE HAVE TO FI THE BORDERS…OH YEAH YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE TRAITOR!!!

    uSING THAT gRANDMA LINE AGAIN….
    HOW ABOUT COMPASSION FOR OVERSTRTECHED aMERICANS….oooh i hate this man!!

  39. #139
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:00 pm, Wes S. said:

    …And now McVain is spinning like a top on amnesty for illegal aliens. ‘Scuse me while I go take some Dramamine, because I’m getting sick to my stomach listening to this…

  40. #140
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, maisy said:

    MITT TELLS IT LIKE IT IS…MORE WILL COME!

  41. #141
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, gayle said:

    Yeah, it’s gonna be a Mitt/Fred campaign in the final analysis.

    MHO.

  42. #142
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, Lindsay said:

    Huck just stepped in stuff the color of his tie.

    Now McCon is droning again. Deja vu.

    Yeah! Immigration. McShamnesty is trying
    to dig out of pit and failing to all but Ron Paul. Did ya like the whine on humane immigration.Tuning violins. Mitt just got him on amnesty. Go home McCain.
    Now droning in boring voice. He wants to get beyond this as he knows this is what fried any hopes of nomination.

  43. #143
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, maisy said:

    We don’t want to work it out..WE want the law ENFORCED MORON!!!

  44. #144
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, wrcnossen said:

    This was an example of the best the Republican Party can produce? We are in such trouble….

  45. #145
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, williamnr said:

    Mitt tels it like it is and like it isn’t, depending on what day you ask him

    Flipper!

  46. #146
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm, TXRose said:

    When someone has to keep telling us how moral he is, I start looking behind him
    to see what he’s trying to hide. I also do not believe that God told him that He
    wants Huck to be president. I just do not think that God would be that mean to
    us.

  47. #147
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm, maisy said:

    EXACTLY…

    Now droning in boring voice. He wants to get beyond this as he knows this is what fried any hopes of nomination

    Forget what he really wants to do….move on…

  48. #148
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, gayle said:

    ZING! haha!

    Go Mitt!

  49. #149
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Bigurn said:

    Huck is struggling, and getting chippy. Chris nails him.

  50. #150
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Lindsay said:

    Mitt is grinning, fixin’ to cream Huck.

  51. #151
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm, gayle said:

    Law? What exactly does that mean?

    Has that changed too????

  52. #152
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm, gayle said:

    Huck just screwed up his nomination.

  53. #153
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, mlnicosia said:

    Theres only so much money to go around. If your giving it to illegals your punishing my kids huck.

  54. #154
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, maisy said:

    I do not think of Mitt as much of a flipper…he did keep English as prominent langiafe in MA …tried to do some things…..the gardener thing is an idiotic example…

  55. #155
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm, maisy said:

    Huck wants us to forget his history on amnesty too..Reagan gave us the mess …who will clean it up!!!???

  56. #156
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, DougT said:

    “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Talking Your Way Out of the Republican Nomination” by Mike Huckabee.

    He just read a 5th grade essay on “reasons for people to immigrate to the US” too.

  57. #157
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, Wes S. said:

    I also do not believe that God told (Huckabee) that He wants Huck to be president. I just do not think that God would be that mean to
    us.

    Ever read the biblical book of Job…?

  58. #158
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, gayle said:

    Doug T, LOL! Yep!

  59. #159
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:08 pm, Lindsay said:

    Violins tuning. Crickets chirping while Huck blathers. Hope he gets in the back of the line with McCain.

    You CAN deport millions by enforcing the law on the books (humanely, of course).

  60. #160
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:08 pm, maisy said:

    Enforce the law…how easy is that???
    as Nike says
    JUST DO IT!

  61. #161
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:08 pm, rightisright said:

    here we go the liberal interpretation of the 14th amendment ..tell me under who’s jurisdiction are the illegals under when they come across the boarder illegally?
    answer: No One…their illegal, so are their off spring.

  62. #162
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, maisy said:

    I don’t rust Rudy to stop illegals……

  63. #163
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, gayle said:

    Rudy just repeats himself.

    FRED??

  64. #164
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, DougT said:

    Rudy wants that big fence they used in Lost that “killed” the Russian.

  65. #165
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, Wes S. said:

    The good news is that at least the Republican candidates have figured out the people want illegal immigration stopped.

    The bad news is that, outside of Fred Thompson, we can’t really trust them to stop it considering their past statements on the issue…

  66. #166
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, maisy said:

    Was not based on compassion…was based on $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  67. #167
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, Bigurn said:

    Fred on immigration – YES!

    What are we saying to next generation of Mexicans? What are we saying to our own people going about their lives legally?

  68. #168
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:11 pm, maisy said:

    I always believed Bush counted on illegals to make his economy look much better than it really was………

  69. #169
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, Lindsay said:

    DougT, what are you drinking? I want some,too.

    GO FRED! I will start praying for him to get nomination, in spite of press and his lack of pizazz.

  70. #170
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, Wes S. said:

    I think Fred just took the wind out of everybody’s sails on the immigration issue with that last remark. Especially his snarky comment about “What does it say about the leadership (of Mexico) when their greatest export is their own population?

  71. #171
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, Mookie said:

    I still want to know how they expect to round up 12 million people.

  72. #172
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:13 pm, mlnicosia said:

    I’m still not convinced Fred. Mitt has a plan and he explains it and defends it well.

  73. #173
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, maisy said:

    McCain needs our help…..after he told American to **** OFF over his Kennedy plan!
    Anybody who votes for this loser is an idiot!

  74. #174
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, Lindsay said:

    Mookie, darlin’, read sometime how President Eisenhower did it. You don’t round ‘em up, you enforce the law. They
    are deporting themselves this month in Arizona.

  75. #175
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:15 pm, maisy said:

    You don’t need to deport them–enforce the law and they will leave on their own thru attrition…It is already happening in Oklahoma and Arizona and mexicans telling others “don’t come!!!”

  76. #176
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:15 pm, DesertLover said:

    At least we are seeing some “passion” on the part of the candidates … much moreso than on the non-Fox debates with all the softball questions and inane platitudes designed to make the GOP candidates look bad …

    That said … I am trying tofigure out which of my friends I want to share time with for the rest of this debate … toss up between Jack and Jose … :lol:

  77. #177
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, Bigurn said:

    Mookie – one at a time, if need be. What illegal immigration does to the integrity of our legal system is large and difficult to measure. If we are not a system of laws, then we are not a country.

    We must secure the borders. A buddy who works the Border Patrol decries the drug smuggling, movement of Islamic legals, and Chinese agents more than Latinos. The local sheriffs on both sides of the border are also a big part of the problem here. No other country debates border security but us – the big question is “why”?

  78. #178
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, Mookie said:

    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, Lindsay said:

    Mookie, darlin’, read sometime how President Eisenhower did it. You don’t round ‘em up, you enforce the law. They
    are deporting themselves this month in Arizona.

    Eisenhower had 3 million to deal with.

  79. #179
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, maisy said:

    My fear is the states cracking down will send them to those states that have no law enforcement…chaos

  80. #180
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, DougT said:

    Michelle, when are you hosting a Republican debate? We need a feisty, combative moderator who will charm them into skipping their crib notes and answer the friggin questions.

  81. #181
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:17 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    On January 6th, 2008 at 8:17 pm, DougT said:

    Fred’s talking and his sonorous tones are lulling me into a sense of security. This is the guy I wanna hear doing weekly radio addresses next year.

    How right you are. The more I listen to this bunch, the more I want Fred to be our next president.

    Go Fred!

  82. #182
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:17 pm, TXRose said:

    I have read Job. I just don’t think it applies to this situation. I also wish they would straighten out the mess that has been made of the 14th Amendment which was for the children of freed slaves, not some illegal
    hiding in the bushes. When I was a child on the TX border, my friends
    father ( a border patrol agent ) told of a woman that they kept finding in the
    bushes, trying to have her baby on the American side of the river. They kept sending her back and she kept coming back. When she did have her
    baby here, they took her back and told her it didn’t count if no one saw the
    baby born on this side. Mean, but I do understand.

  83. #183
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:17 pm, maisy said:

    Eisenhower had only 3 million…all the more reason we act now…or never lack of action will cede this country to Mexicans!!!

  84. #184
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, Lindsay said:

    Huck needs some of Hillary’s Botox to stop the eyebrow wagging thing. I don’t trust this guy.

  85. #185
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, DesertLover said:

    Mookie … seal the border … get rid of the jobs by going after the employers hiring illegals … the majority will go home on their own … if you don’t believe that then you need to check what is going on in Oklahoma and Arizona and being considered by a number of other states …

  86. #186
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:19 pm, rightisright said:

    Huckaboo now patting himself on the back for not running a negative ad…yeah right…he didn’t have the money to run it…so, he let Fox show it…free advertizing for the HUCKUP. Smart on his part but B.S.

  87. #187
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, maisy said:

    Ask if they will pardon Ramos and Compean????

  88. #188
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, Mookie said:

    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, DesertLover said:

    Mookie … seal the border … get rid of the jobs by going after the employers hiring illegals … the majority will go home on their own … if you don’t believe that then you need to check what is going on in Oklahoma and Arizona and being considered by a number of other states …

    I’m not questioning what’s going on in Oklahoma and Arizona. I just think it’s an exercise in futility if you don’t fully secure the border first.

  89. #189
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, Lindsay said:

    In the 50′s 3 million probably felt like our 12 bazillion. Regardless, he enforced the law, some were deported, and the rest left on their own.

  90. #190
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:21 pm, rightisright said:

    Aren’t religious leaders(pastor’s and reverends) suppose to be honest?

  91. #191
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:22 pm, williamnr said:

    Maisey,

    Huck has stated emphatically that he would

  92. #192
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm, IrishEyes said:

    Huckster keeps saying how he was re-elected in a state where most public officials are democraps. Is this supposed to be a good thing vis-a-vis being a conservative. I don’t think so. Duh.

  93. #193
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, DougT said:

    The Danaides Plan, we should call it, Mookie.

  94. #194
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, DesertLover said:

    Rudy has so much baggage he needs an army of porters, bellhops and skycaps to carry it for him …

  95. #195
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, mlnicosia said:

    McCain just took himself out.

  96. #196
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, maisy said:

    Older than dirt..he sure is…Step away from the podium John –you will not last long enough to take the job at your age!!

  97. #197
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, williamnr said:

    The reason Mitt attacks everyone else’s record is that he is running from his own record as fast as he can.

    He talks about everyone else’s record and about his plans for the future, but not about his record in Mass.

    I can’t blame him. Anyone would be ashamed to have his record.

  98. #198
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, DougT said:

    Yesterday, I noted that the Carolina Silk Merchant was channeling Slick. When I have McCain off screen, he seems to be doing an imitation of Reagan with that halting chuckle.

  99. #199
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, gayle said:

    Rudy’s out…..McCain is out…..

  100. #200
    On January 6th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, mlnicosia said:

    I like Fred but he could never energize enough people to vote him over obama. Mitt has it all together. Showed it tonight.

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